Faculty and staff at Black Hills State
University participated in a variety of in-service activities this week.
Dr. Thomas Flickema, president of BHSU, delivered his annual state of
the campus address from the stage of the recital hall in Clare and Josef
Meier Hall, the newest addition to the campus. Throughout the week
faculty members participated in instructional technology training,
department and college meetings, as well as a ROPES course located on
campus. Classes at BHSU begin Tuesday, Aug. 31.

President Flickema
welcomed new and returning faculty and outlined opportunities and
challenges facing BHSU this year. He noted that residence halls are at
full capacity, a strong sign that enrollment is up.

Flickema said that BHSU continues to
strive to provide students with the best possible educational experience
by improving the efficiency of the administrative structure while
responding to a new funding framework from the Board of Regents.

He noted that the on-going
collaboration plans with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
have provided additional opportunities for BHSU and predicted that the
establishment of the West River Center for Higher Education in Rapid
City will further enhance educational opportunities for all students
seeking classes in western South Dakota. Flickema noted that retention
rate, which is one of the funding incentives, have improved greatly on
the BHSU campus in recent years.

Flickema said that
national and state leaders continue to push for accountability on all
levels of education, including higher education, and the academic
proficiency test results show that BHSU students continue to rank high
as compared to other South Dakota Regental institutions.

He noted several positive
accomplishments including the beginning of Project SELECT, which offers
a fast-track to teacher certification for people who have a college
degree; impending improvements at the library; formulation of a plan to
comply with Title IX and ongoing increases in grants.

“We have a vibrant and
forward looking campus,” Flickema said. “We remain focused on teaching
students and we do it well. We do an excellent job of preparing students
for the world, and our faculty are highly prepared and dedicated with a
strong record in research, publications, and performances.”

He also praised several
outreach programs, including the Summer Institute of the Arts, the
Center for Advancement of Math and Science Education and the College of
Education, which provide workshops and work with local and regional
schools. Flickema said that BHSU provides economic development through
the Center for Tourism Research, the Center for Business and
Entrepreneurship and the establishment of the Center of the Conservation
of Biological Resources.

Flickema noted that the return of the 842nd National Guard
unit this summer signified that this was going to be a great year, and
he is looking forward to future positive developments this academic
year.

Faculty
members took part in the ROPES course during faculty in-service.
Michelle Hovland, a new faculty member, works her way across a human
ladder created by colleagues including Betsy Silva, David Calhoon, Cindi
Chandler, Tim Hightower and Susan Hove-Pabst. The ROPES course is a
specially designed course that includes several stations with elements
to present physical and mental challenges to encourage people to
collaborate better as a team, encourage effective communication skills
and utilize leadership skills.

More than
150 faculty and staff members gathered for the annual picnic at Ranch A
near Beulah, Wyo., Thursday evening. Activities included a disc golf
competition, entertainment by Brock Finn and a meal. Door prizes were
also awarded.

Jodi L. Neiffer was recently named director of alumni at Black Hills
State University. Neiffer, who earned a business administration degree
from BHSU, was most recently employed with the South Dakota School of
Mines and Technology Foundation in Rapid City.

Neiffer is looking forward to working with alumni at her alma mater
and as she begins in the position has several goals.

"I was already working at a university and doing the similar duties.
I only feel so lucky to have this opportunity to work for Black Hills
State" Neiffer said. "I hope to build on the relationships already in
place with the alums and also make new ones." She said she will also
work to make the students aware of the Alumni Association and Foundation
before they graduate and leave campus.

As alumni director, Neiffer be responsible for working with alumni
leaders; assisting with alumni-based fund-raising; developing an alumni
communications plan; gathering and editing class notes; maintaining the
alumni website and organizing annual reunions, alumni events, and
regional alumni gatherings. She will also offer guidance and direction
to the Alumni Board of Directors and work with students on homecoming
activities.

“Jodi comes back home to BHSU after gaining valuable experience
working for the South Dakota Tech Foundation,” Steve Meeker, vice
president of institutional advancement said. “We are very excited to
have her as a member of our team and I’m convinced alumni will feel the
same when they meet her.”

Neiffer is originally from Chamberlain. Her husband, Weston is in the
National Guard and recently served in Iraq and will now be attending
BHSU in pursuit of an elementary education degree. The couple has a
one-year-old daughter, Elle.

Terri Wells, who joined the alumni staff in 1999, was recently named
director of development for BHSU. Steve Meeker, who recently took on the
additional duty of athletic director, remains vice president of
institutional advancement and will continue to oversee the alumni and
development offices.

The Center for Economic Education at Black Hills State
University has been awarded a grant by the National Council on Economic
Education and the Moody’s Foundation to implement a teacher training
workshop for elementary, middle school and high school teachers in the
West River area of South Dakota.

The workshop, “Learning, Earning and Investing,” will
be held on the BHSU campus in the spring of 2005. Specific curriculum
materials for elementary, middle school and high school teachers will be
provided to integrate financial literacy materials into a variety of
subjects, according to Don Altmyer, associate professor in the College
of Business and Technology and director of the Center for Economic
Education.

The workshop will provide teachers with four lesson
plans for fourth and fifth grade,
16 middle school lesson plans and 23 high school lesson plans. These
lessons cover all aspects of saving, investing and managing money and
can be used to supplement a variety of subjects such as math, social
science, business, gifted studies, economics or computer classes.
Altmyer said the curriculum can be used in conjunction with the South
Dakota Stock Market Game Program or as a stand-alone curriculum.

Teachers will also be provided with interactive
lessons, visual aids, current investment materials and sample lesson
plans as well as lunch and a travel stipend. There is no cost to the
teachers attending the workshop.

The Center for Economic Education at BHSU provides
economic education resources and workshops for K-12 teachers. The center
also coordinates and delivers the fall and spring South Dakota Stock
Market Game Program, a ten-week on-line stock trading simulation for
middle school, high school and college students across South Dakota.

For information on the workshops or the stock market
game, contact Altmyer at
605-642-6266 or DonAltmyer@bhsu.edu.

A group of 27 Japanese students from Gifu City
recently completed a three-week exchange program on the campus of Black
Hills State University. According to Dr. Roger Miller, coordinator for
the program, this is the largest group that has ever taken part in the
cultural exchange program which is in its fourth year at BHSU.

During the month of August, the students, who attend
Gifu Women’s College, took part in a variety of activities and learning
opportunities. While in Spearfish, the Japanese students stay on campus
and spend their time involved in a mixture of academic and tourist
activities meant to share our culture and improve their English speaking
ability. The group studied the basic geology of this area, local
history, Native American history and culture, and English as a second
language. Upon completion of the program, students earn college credits
toward their degree in Japan.

Afternoons and weekends were filled with a variety of
activities meant to introduce them to the many facets of American life
and reveal some of the attractions of the Black Hills which included
trips to the Sturgis Rally and Races, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mt. Rushmore
Monument, the Wild Horse Sanctuary and other attractions. According to
Miller, a visit to Tatanka-Story of the Bison, near Deadwood, was a
highlight for many of the students because it also allowed them to meet
actor Kevin Costner, who owns the local attraction.

Their itinerary also included a pow wow on the Pine
Ridge Indian Reservation which provided a cultural experience to
complement their studies. The students stayed on campus for most of the
time but also participated in a three-day homestay with community
members to learn more about American family life.

Miller is making plans for next year’s program and is
also interested in increasing exchange possibilities for people from
this area who would like to travel to Japan.

A highlight for the Gifu exchange
group from Japan was a visit to Tatanka where they met actor Kevin
Costner, who owns the attraction. The students recently ended a three-week exchange program at Black Hills State
University.

The Green and Gold Booster Club at Black Hills State
University is once again planning to meet on scheduled Tuesdays at noon
throughout the year.

The first luncheon meeting will be Tuesday, Aug. 31 at
Perkins in Spearfish. The public is welcome to attend. University
coaches will be available to discuss the upcoming season.

The BHSU football team kicks off their season at Lyle
Hare Stadium Thursday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. with a non-conference game
against archrival South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The first
home volleyball game will be Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Donald
E. Young Sports and Fitness Center against the University of Mary. The
cross-country season begins Saturday, Sept. 11 at the South Dakota Tech
Invitational in Rapid City.

This year’s Green and Gold luncheon schedule is shown
below. All luncheons begin at noon. All interested people are invited to
attend. For more information call 642-6385.